W Soccer steamrolls Marshall in 2019-20 Michigan Athletics opener

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on August 23rd, 2019 at 12:13 AM

The season officially began tonight for both Michigan Women's Soccer and for all of 2019-20 Michigan Athletics as well.

This game never felt close at all. Practically the entire game was played on Marshall's end of the field. 

Michigan came oh so close to multiple first half goals but the Herd GK made some great saves and Michigan had some narrow misses. The Wolverines finally struck in the 25th minute with sophomore Meredith Haakenson putting a great ball from Nicki Hernandez into the bottom left corner. 

That was all the scoring there was in the 1st half but Michigan was in clear control as Marshall could only muster 1 shot on goal in 45 minutes. The second half is where the boat race began. 

Not even 2 minutes into the second half Raleigh Loughman made it 2-0 Maize & Blue when she buried a shot from 18 yards out. Seven minutes later it was Sarah Stratigakis from long range putting Michigan up 3-0.

Marshall changed goalies but it didn't matter much. Freshman Danielle Wolfe got her first career goal and made it 4-0 Michigan on a 76th minute PK after a red card in the box by a Herd defender. With just 5 minutes left in the game, Haakenson grabbed her 2nd goal of the game/season for good measure. 

Michigan beats Marshall 5-0. 

The Thundering Herd were simply overmatched in this one. As I said, it felt like 80 minutes of the game were played in Marshall's end. Shots were 23-3, 13-1 on goal and Michigan led in corner kicks 7-3.

After a meh 3-1 season opening win over a Patriot League team last season in Coach Jennifer Klein's first year, tonight's result inspires much more confidence. 5 goals is the second most scored in a game in the Klein era (6-1 over CMU last year is the record). Marshall is not a good team but Michigan only really blew out one bad team last year. And the team faced a bunch in 2018.

Michigan is 1-0-0 on the season and will turn their attention to the Battle of the Wolverines on Sunday.

For the first time in program history, Michigan will face a WAC team when the Utah Valley Wolverines come to U-M Soccer Stadium. The game is at 2pm and will be streamed on the brand-new BTN+.

MGoBoard

Wolverine Devotee

August 23rd, 2019 at 12:18 AM ^

Some photos

Slowly but surely Michigan is outfitting all facilities in the Nike-designed Valiant font. The backdrop tarp(?) on the North end of the field is the latest one. Oddly enough that's all that was done. For some reason all of the championship years on the South end wall are completely removed. The tarped fence above the South goal also still has a random third font that slightly looks like the classic Michigan font but isn't it. 

Kind of half-assed and the inconsistentcy bothers me but you're talking to someone who is a perfectionist with OCD.

It was a BEAUTIFUL night in Ann Arbor. Fall was in the air all day across Southeast Michigan. Divine intervention at play since yesterday was hot as hell and the 2019-20 season opener has gorgeous Fall weather.

The final score

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

rob f

August 23rd, 2019 at 12:30 AM ^

Maybe you need to go full OCD instead of half-ass OCD.  Did you not notice the dude wearing a shirt that is highlighter yellow instead of true Maize?  You should have been all over it and in his face!  

/s

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 195018

GoodLuckVarsity

August 23rd, 2019 at 1:28 AM ^

Dani Wolfe is the most physically imposing female soccer player I’ve ever seen in person. Coached against her 8 or 9 times in the past few years. Good to see her start things off on a high note. I’ll be down there for the Notre Dame game on Sept 6 with my U11 and U10 girls teams, should be a great experience for them. 

Joined: 09/03/2009

MGoPoints: 3111